India medical center possible site for WCF clinic

Published September 25, 2007 @ 07:38AM PT

Publication:Times Of India Lucknow; Date:Sep 19, 2007; Section:Times City; Page Number:5

CSMMU’s plastic surgery dept in WCF elite list TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow: Rashmi (12) had a bulging forehead and eyes near the ears making her bovine faced in medical parlance. Besides being an embarrassment, it made her lose self-confidence. She came to the plastic surgery department of the Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) a few months back where experts using craniofacial surgery recontoured her face into a normal one.

    Though Rashmi landed at a right place but countless people (one in every 1,000 births) suffering from craniofacial deformities (deformed skull and face) are not so fortunate as there are only few experts and fewer centres providing craniofacial surgery. The CSMMU plastic surgery department, which is among few medical institutions in the north India having expertise and technical knowhow for craniofacial surgery, has the potential of becoming centre of excellence provided it gets more infrastructure and funds.

    The good news is that now World Craniofacial Foundation (WCF), a US-based charity organisation involved in facilitating treatment of patients with craniofacial abnormalities, is interested in the CSMMU plastic surgery department which has required expertise and receives at least one patient with craniofacial deformity per week. The WCF is also looking for a site to establish a referral craniofacial centre in developing countries where a large volume of patients with craniofacial deformities can be treated.

    On Tuesday, a three-member WCF team led by Dr Kenneth Salyer (USA), WCF’s founder chairman, arrived in CSMMU. The other team members are Dr Arun Gosain (USA) and Dr Eric Arnaud (France), both members of medical advisory board of the foundation. The CSMMU plastic surgery department is among three centres in India which has been picked up by the WCF for scrutiny. The other two centres are in Bangalore and Chennai. Besides India, WCF has also selected Bangkok as a possible place where a craniofacial centre can be developed.

    The team will inspect the department during its two-day visit, meet faculty members and students and also visit state government officers to make an assessment whether the CSMMU plastic surgery department is fit for their plans or not. Dr Salyer, one of the leading craniofacial surgeon in the world, has few years back successfully separated the Egyptian craniopages twins who were joined by their heads. The surgical operation, which was publicised across the world, was sponsored by the WCF. The twins are doing well now.

    Dr Salyer, while talking to media-persons, said that the vision of the foundation is that all people with craniofacial abnormalities get excellent care regardless of the geography and socio-economic class. The centres in India selected by WCF will get support in terms of infrastructure, training, education and research, he added. “We don’t expect much from the government but are looking forward to get public support so that our joint efforts can provide treatment to the millions here who are in need,” he added.

    Dr Arnaud explained that the WCF is also interested in providing scholarships to the doctors for training in craniofacial surgery.

    Dr Gosain felt that Indian medical institutions have lots of potential.